Wallaby

Our hare, rabbit and wallaby is wild - shot on large stations by NZFSA-accredited hunters in the South Island.

These wild, free-ranging animals are living off our rich NZ flora, which makes them an incredibly nutritious food for cats and dogs. Wallaby are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for controlling inflammation. They are packed full of beneficial vitamins and minerals. They really are the ultimate food for our pets!

Wallaby are noxious pests. They were introduced onto Kawau Island in the 1870s for sport, and for their skins. They were released in South Canterbury where they spread rapidly. They are a serious threat to our native forests - they attack seedlings, thus preventing the re-growth of canopy trees.

The primary control measure is poison. The main secondary measure of control is regular shooting. The better the secondary control, the less need there is for poison.

We only use accredited hunters who work within a strict programme to ensure no overlap (temporally or geographically) with poison drops.

Our ability to source a constant supply of rabbit, hare and wallaby is affected by several factors:

• We are limited to farms that are not using primary control measures.
• Seasonality: Winter snow makes access for hunters difficult and animals spend more time in their burrows. Breeding takes off in spring, however farmers tend to restrict hunting over this time to avoid disturbing the new lambs. Summer brings our most ready supply.
• Availability of accredited hunters: It is challenging work with modest returns. It is unlikely that the cost to consumers will come down, unless government initiatives favour and support secondary control methods over the use of poison.